Fibromyalgia, Sleep and Restless Leg Syndrome

Fibromyalgia
(FM) and sleep dysfunction seem to go hand in hand. In fact, most
people who have FM complain of problems associated with sleeping. Sleep
problems can include difficulty falling asleep with or without waking up
one to multiple times a night. Also, the inability to reach “deep
sleep” results in waking up feeling un-restored. People with
fibromyalgia frequently state, “… I feel exhausted when I wake up. I
have no energy.” They often feel more tired in the morning, and many go
back to sleep during the day to ease their fatigue. Another common FM
complaint is having great difficulty concentrating during the day, often
referred to as “…fibro fog.” Other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea
and restless leg syndrome are also often associated with FM.

Restless
legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that is characterized by
an overwhelming urge to move the legs at rest, thus interfering with
sleep. Restless legs syndrome is more common among those who have
fibromyalgia. Patients with RLS describe this as an unpleasant sensation
in their legs and sometimes their arms or other parts of the body
accompanied by the irresistible urge to move the legs in attempt to
relieve the sensation. The terms, “itchy” or “pins and needles” or
“creepy crawly” are frequently used when describing the sensations and
can range from mild to intolerable. Symptoms are typically worse at
rest, especially when lying or sitting and frequently result in sleep
deprivation and stress. The intensity of the symptoms can vary,
frequently worse in the nighttime and better in the morning. RLS may
affect up to 10% of the population in the United States, especially
women, and can affect both young and old, even young children. The
severe cases usually affect the middle-aged or older and account for
about 2-3% of the 10% incidence rate. The diagnosis is often delayed,
sometimes for 10-20 years. Although the cause is not clearly described,
genetics seems to play a role given about 50% of those affected have a
family member with the condition.

Other conditions often
associated with RLS include iron deficiency, Parkinson’s disease, kidney
failure, iron deficiency, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy.
Treatment for these conditions often indirectly helps RLS resulting in
sleep quality improvement. Medications such as anti-nausea drugs,
antipsychotic drugs, some anti-depressants, and cold/allergy medications
that contain antihistamines can worsen symptoms. Pregnancy can also
trigger RLS, especially during the last trimester, and it commonly takes
about 3-4 weeks for the symptoms to quiet down after delivery. Other
factors that affect RLS include alcohol intake and sleep deprivation
itself. Improving sleep and/or eliminating alcohol can be quite
effective treatment strategies. There are no medical tests that confirm
the diagnosis of RLS, but blood tests can at least rule out other
conditions, and when all the tests are negative, the diagnosis is made
based on a patient’s symptoms, family history, medication use, the
presence of an interrupted sleep pattern with daytime fatigue, and
knowledge about the condition.

Chiropractic management including
the use of spinal manipulation, muscle release techniques, exercise
training, and at times, physical therapy modalities has been reported to
be effective in managing RLS-associated symptoms. Nutritional
approaches that emphasize muscle relaxation have also been reported as
helpful.

Members of ChiroTrust® have taken “The ChiroTrust Pledge”: “To the best of my ability, I agree to provide my patients convenient, affordable, and mainstream Chiropractic care. I will not use unnecessary long-term treatment plans and/or therapies.”

Search

Conditions

Archives

This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.